On September 1, 2021, patients suffering from any stage of cancer and battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be able to access physician-prescribed medical cannabis in Texas.

What’s happening?
The much-anticipated House Bill 1535 is going into effect on that date, expanding access to medical cannabis to even more patients under the Compassionate Use Program (CUP). Likewise, the bill will increase the THC limit in medical cannabis products from 0.5 percent to 1 percent by weight.

Cancer and PTSD join other conditions eligible for medical cannabis including peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, seizure disorders, autism, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and more.

How did we achieve expansion?
Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation (TOCC), the leading medical cannabis provider in Texas, advocated for House Bill 1535 alongside its author, House Public Health Committee Chairwoman Stephanie Klick. Patients, caregivers and advocates from across Texas contributed their efforts to ensure the bill would become a reality.

What’s next?
TOCC is introducing the first fast-acting gummies in the state of Texas on September 1, and has a full line of products available to existing and new patients.

Additionally, TOCC has made the process of obtaining a medical cannabis prescription easy, with free online consultations, fast statewide delivery, prescription pick-up locations throughout Texas, and convenient online refills.

Millions of Texans are currently eligible to benefit from medical cannabis. Schedule a free consultation to find out if you or a loved one qualify for a prescription.

That’s right, medical marijuana is legal in Texas. Although the state’s program pales in comparison to the full medical programs of its neighbors, qualified Texans can access low-THC medical marijuana if they have a qualifying condition.

Here’s what you need to know about what is legal, who qualifies, and how to get a prescription for medical marijuana in Texas.

What is legal in Texas?
While recreational marijuana is still illegal in the state, medical marijuana with up to 0.5 percent THC by weight is legal for Texans who qualify under the Compassionate Use Program. This year, the program could see some expansions as Texas lawmakers meet for the 2021 legislative session.

Legislation such as Texas House Bill 1535, if passed, could allow more Texans to find relief with medical marijuana and increase the allowable percentage of THC to 5 percent by weight.

Who qualifies for medical marijuana in Texas?
The Compassionate Use Program allows Texans who have qualifying conditions to access medical marijuana. Approved conditions include:

• autism
• spasticity
• peripheral neuropathy
• ALS
• MS
• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s and other dementias
• cerebral palsy
• and other incurable neurodegenerative diseases

How do I become a patient?
Texans who qualify for medical marijuana can get a prescription in just a few simple steps. To be eligible, you must:

• be a Texas resident
• have a qualifying condition
• receive a prescription from a doctor who is registered to prescribe medical marijuana in the state

Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, the leading medical marijuana company in Texas, makes the process easy for new patients.

Just fill out the form to find a doctor who can prescribe in your area. The TOCC team will send you an email with local and telemedicine options. Please be sure to check your spam or promotions folder.

After your appointment, contact TOCC’s friendly dispensary team and they will schedule you for a pick-up at one of their four locations across Texas, or arrange a delivery right to your home. Plus, take advantage of their first-time patient discount and get 20 percent off your first order and buy one, get one 50 percent off your second order.

No matter what you choose, you can rest easy knowing that their medicine is made by Texans, for Texans, with a commitment to quality, consistency, and purity.

More Texans are turning to medical marijuana to treat their multiple sclerosis symptoms, and here's why. In 2019, the Texas legislature expanded the Compassionate Use Program, approving more conditions — like multiple sclerosis — for medical marijuana in the Lone Star State.

Since then, success stories from MS patients and their doctors have emerged across the state as more Texans try medical marijuana to treat their symptoms.

Tracy was one of these stories. After several unsuccessful treatments, her doctor told her she was a "no option" patient. Her pain and inflammation limited her daily activities and she still hadn't found a solution to effectively relieve her symptoms.

When she discovered Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, the only Texas-owned and -operated medical marijuana company in the state, she finally regained her quality of life.

"It's a big deal just to be able to go outside and do some yard work," says Tracy. "It's the things you take for granted. This medical cannabis brought back my hope and quality of life."

The research behind medical marijuana for MS
In addition to these success stories, recent studies have shown medical marijuana as an effective treatment for many MS symptoms. Both THC and CBD, the active chemicals in medical marijuana, may help relieve common symptoms such as pain, stiffness, mobility problems, spasticity, depression, and anxiety.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 160 patients found that medical marijuana improved several MS symptoms with no significant adverse effects on cognition or mood. Another study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that medical cannabis helped ease muscle stiffness caused by MS.

With more research supporting its benefits, there is increasing acceptance of medical marijuana in the MS community in Texas and across the U.S. Texans who are interested in trying medical marijuana for their symptoms can get a prescription in a few simple steps.

Getting a medical marijuana prescription for MS
Do you or a loved one have MS? Getting a medical marijuana prescription isn't as difficult as you might think. Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation can help you find a doctor who is registered to prescribe medical marijuana.

To start, simply fill out their Find a Doctor form. Within 24 hours, you will receive a list of doctors in your area. After your appointment, call 512-614-0343 to fill your prescription. You can pick up your prescription from one of TOCC's four locations throughout Texas or get it delivered right to your home.

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Need more info? Visit the Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation website to learn more about TCUP, the benefits of medical marijuana, and which conditions might qualify for treatment.

Thanks to the Compassionate Use Program, Texans with MS can find relief.

Photo courtesy of Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation

Thanks to the Compassionate Use Program, Texans with MS can find relief.

It's been a few months since Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, the state's first legal medical marijuana producer and dispensary, expanded with more Texas pick-up locations, including Plano, San Antonio, and Houston in addition to its Austin flagship.

But many still may be unsure of what the company provides or how to start the process to get medical cannabis in Texas. Turns out, all it takes to find relief for more than 146 conditions is filling out a simple form.

Their team will then work with your current physician or match you with a doctor registered to prescribe medical marijuana under the Texas Compassionate Use Program. They can refer you to doctors that offer either in-person and virtual appointments.

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn more about this powerful treatment option that could help treat a variety of symptoms frequently associated with autism, ALS, terminal cancer, MS, and more.

Step 1: Fill out the form
You don't need to come to TOCC with your own prescription — let them help you find the right doctor by connecting you with their network of physicians, all of whom are registered to prescribe medical cannabis and are overseen by a medical advisory board. If you have a current physician that's interested in prescribing, they can help walk them through the simple process of getting registered.

Provide some quick details using this form, and one of TOCC's patient representatives will contact you within 24 hours to help.

Step 2: Set an appointment
Telemedicine is likely the easiest option during the pandemic, but certain conditions might require an in-office visit. Many of the prescribers in the network can see you quickly and help get you on the road to relief.

Step 3: Follow up
Once your new physician has electronically submitted your prescription, call the dispensary at 512-614-0343 to choose your preferred flavor and confirm your pick-up or delivery. The medicines are available in easy-to-consume tinctures, lozenges, and sprays. You can pick up your prescription from one of TOCC's four locations throughout Texas or have it delivered to your home.

Medical cannabis has provided relief for thousands of people in Texas — both adults and children — and you can learn more about their stories on TOCC's website.

From a mother who finally found a way to manage her multiple sclerosis to a child who gained control over his seizures after all other medications had failed, these stories speak for themselves.

If you or a loved one are suffering and believe you could benefit from cannabis medicine, review the list of qualifying conditions and let TOCC help you find relief.

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Need more info? Visit the Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation website to learn more about TCUP, the benefits of medical marijuana, and which conditions might qualify for treatment.

It's simple to get the medical marijuana prescription you need.

Photo courtesy of Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation

It's simple to get the medical marijuana prescription you need.